Folarin Balogun transfer solution found as 'bad boy' wonderkid outshines USMNT star

Analysis

Tom Weber | Writer

Folarin Balogun finds himself in limbo after rejecting a last-minute transfer to Everton - and AS Monaco are, remarkably, thriving without their star striker.

The United States forward was one of the protagonists on Deadline Day earlier this week. After enjoying a red-hot end to last season and an impressive World Cup, Monaco were ready to cash in on Balogun as they needed money and to free up a non-EU spot for a new midfield signing.

Everton, in desperate need of striker reinforcements, attempted to sign the 25-year-old and reportedly agreed a package worth around €50 million. However, they had concerns over his fitness during his medical and renegotiated the deal.

After some back-and-forth, during which Monaco panicked and agreed to sell Lamine Camara to Chelsea before dramatically U-turning, a new agreement was struck, but the damage had already been done: Balogun felt wronged by the Toffees and no longer wanted the move.

All of this happened after the window had already closed, so there was no time for alternative solutions, leaving Everton without a new striker and Monaco without a much-needed injection of funds. What now happens to Balogun is unclear.

Monaco thrive without Balogun

Despite all of this drama and being without their marquee striker, Monaco are loving life under new head coach Filipe Luis, the former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea defender who enjoyed remarkable success at Flamengo before being controversially sacked earlier this year.

Monaco have a 100% record in competitive games so far, beating Gornik Zabrze in the Conference League playoffs and winning all three of their games in Ligue 1. On Friday evening, they defeated reigning European champions PSG 2-1 after coming back from 1-0 down.

Balogun has not featured at all for the club this season, but this has mattered very little as Monaco have found a new star striker: 20-year-old German wonderkid Paris Brunner.

In 2023, the then-Borussia Dortmund prospect received the golden Fritz Walter medal, recognising him as the best U17 talent in Germany. That same year, however, his fall from grace at his boyhood club began.

The teenage prospect was reprimanded twice by Dortmund - and even suspended once - for disciplinary reasons, and there were growing concerns over his attitude. His success had gone to his head, and he felt entitled to first-team minutes.

In 2024, he decided to leave the club, allowing Monaco to pounce on a market opportunity. He was signed for €4 million and initially loaned to Cercle Brugge. He didn't really impress in Belgium and struggled for minutes last season in Ligue 1.

And yet, he has now bounced back and become the biggest revelation of this nascent season in France. He has scored four goals in five games so far, including a brace against Marseille last week.

Monaco's potential transfer solution

Brunner's emergence has only added to the sense of uncertainty surrounding Balogun. Monaco clearly feel that they no longer need the American, but his transfer options have rapidly diminished since the close of the window in Europe's major leagues and MLS this week.

Even the Turkish transfer window has slammed shut, which means that Balogun now looks more likely to stay than to leave Monaco unless he opens up to the idea of moving to Saudi Arabia, where clubs can do business until October.

Monaco, on the other hand, could be given a last-minute lifeline to balance their books - and it doesn't involve Balogun. Instead, they could cash in on their longest-serving player, Aleksandr Golovin.

The Russia international, who has been with the club since 2018, impressed against PSG, prompting coach Luis to insist that he wants him to stay. However, if Monaco are really desperate for money, they could sell him back to his native Russia.

The Russian Premier League transfer window closes next week, and Nice-Matin claims that Zenit St. Petersburg and Spartak Moscow are in talks to sign the midfielder for a fee potentially up to €25 million.

This would be a welcome windfall for Monaco but also a damaging sale for the squad. The 30-year-old has made more than 270 appearances for the principality club and has started all three Ligue 1 games so far this season.

However, with the Balogun situation likely to remain unresolved until January, Monaco may have no choice but to cash in on Golovin.